Joseph McGill Jr. & Herb Frazier
Mr. Joseph McGill, Jr., is the founder of the Slave Dwelling Project. By arranging for people to sleep in extant slave dwellings, the Slave Dwelling Project has brought much needed attention to these often-neglected structures that are vitally important to the American built environment. Mr. McGill has conducted over 250 overnights in approximately 150 different […]
The Beautiful & Banned
Christine Renee Miller fancies herself an expert. Perhaps it’s because she always seems to play one on screen. You can see her recurring on the CBS hit show, Blue Bloods as the snarky M.E. who constantly schools Donny Wahlberg. She also stars opposite Jim Parsons as the head cancer nurse in the Michael Showalter feature […]
Rosen
Renée Rosen is the USA Today bestselling author of nine novels, including Let’s Call Her Barbie, Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, The Social Graces, Park Avenue Summer and others. Her novels tend to feature strong, enterprising women such as Ruth Handler, Estée Lauder, Alva Vanderbilt and Helen Gurley Brown. In the words of New York Times […]
Waterman
Jon Waterman is an award-winning author and photographer renowned for his immersive explorations of wilderness and environmental issues. With a prolific body of work encompassing 17 books and five films, including ESPN’s Emmy-winning “Surviving Denali” and National Geographic’s bestselling Atlas of the National Parks, Waterman has earned acclaim for his deep connection to nature and […]
Hayden
Chaz Hayden is a YA author and disability awareness advocate. His works include the 2024 release of Diet Soda Club, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and 2025 Children’s Book Council Top 10 Teacher Favorite, and his 2022 debut novel The First Thing About You. He focuses on contemporary themes, highlighting the experiences of […]
Chan
Michelle Jing Chan (she/her) is a queer Chinese American author-illustrator who studied engineering and economics, but now creates books and comics for kids and teens. She gravitates towards empowering stories that celebrate diversity and self-acceptance –books she would have loved to read as a kid. Michelle’s books have earned awards from the Children’s Book Council, […]
Shannon Smith
Nikki Shannon Smith is an educator, presenter, and the award-winning author of nearly 30 published and forthcoming books, ranging from board books to young adult novels. Her middle grade novel STRANDED (Scholastic) is a nominee for both the 2026 Georgia Children’s Book Award and the Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award. She also wrote the Azaleah […]
La Tray
Chris La Tray is a Métis storyteller, a descendent of the Pembina Band of the mighty Red River of the North and an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. His third book, Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home, was published by Milkweed Editions on August 20, 2024. His first […]
Joy
A twelfth generation North Carolinian, David Joy grew up in the Piedmont along the Catawba River, moved away at eighteen, and has spent the last 22 years 100 miles west in the mountains of Jackson County. His work is place-driven and deeply rooted to Appalachia, and has been translated into six languages. In 2023, his […]
Timmerman
Kelsey Timmerman is the New York Times bestselling author of the “Where Am I?” series: Where Am I Wearing?, Where Am I Eating?, and Where Am I Giving?. Through these books, Kelsey puts faces to the global garment, food, and philanthropy industries. With a blend of humor and storytelling, he educates audiences and readers, encouraging […]